# Demographics of England

The demography of England has since 1801 been measured by the decennial national census, and is marked by centuries of population growth and urbanization. Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources, estimates of the population of England for dates prior to the first census in 1801 vary considerably. The population of England at the 2021 census was about 56,489,800.

## Population

The population of England in 2021 was estimated to be 56,489,800. This is the most recent census. In the previous census, in 2011, the population was 53,012,456.
Data for the 2021 census:
* Female: 28,833,712
* Male: 27,656,336
* Total population: 56,489,800
* Total Fertility Rate: 1.61 (2021)

## Historical population

vteLargest conurbations in England :
Rank
Conurbation
Pop.
Principal settlement
1Greater London9,787,426London
2Greater Manchester2,553,379Manchester
3West Midlands2,440,986Birmingham
4West Yorkshire1,777,934Leeds
5Liverpool864,122Liverpool
6South Hampshire855,569Southampton
7Tyneside774,891Newcastle upon Tyne
8Nottingham729,977Nottingham
9Sheffield685,368Sheffield
10Bristol617,280Bristol :

## Vital statistics

This is UK wide information.
| | Average population | Live births | Deaths | Natural change | Crude birth rate (per 1000) | Crude death rate (per 1000) | Natural change (per 1000) | Fertility rates |
| 1940 | | 567,710 | 545,952 | 21,758 | 14.1 | 13.6 | 0.5 | |
| 1941(c) | | 539,205 | 499,343 | 39,862 | 13.9 | 12.9 | 1.0 | |
| 1942 | | 608,373 | 448,777 | 159,596 | 15.6 | 11.5 | 4.1 | |
| 1943 | | 641,064 | 469,916 | 171,148 | 16.2 | 11.9 | 4.3 | |
| 1944 | | 704,748 | 461,189 | 243,559 | 17.7 | 11.6 | 6.1 | |
| 1945 | | 638,422 | 456,216 | 182,206 | 15.9 | 11.4 | 4.5 | |
| 1946 | | 773,153 | 460,543 | 312,610 | 19.2 | 11.4 | 7.8 | |
| 1947 | | 829,863 | 484,324 | 345,539 | 20.5 | 12.0 | 8.5 | |
| 1948 | | 728,131 | 439,803 | 288,328 | 17.9 | 10.8 | 7.1 | |
| 1949 | | 686,181 | 478,627 | 207,554 | 16.8 | 11.7 | 5.1 | |
| 1950 | | 654,321 | 477,006 | 177,315 | 15.5 | 11.3 | 4.2 | |
| 1951(c) | 41,164,356 | 636,259 | 513,375 | 122,884 | 15.5 | 12.5 | 3.0 | |
| 1952 | | 632,347 | 466,479 | 165,858 | 15.3 | 11.3 | 4.0 | |
| 1953 | | 642,844 | 472,137 | 170,707 | 15.5 | 11.3 | 4.2 | |
| 1954 | | 633,395 | 469,074 | 164,321 | 15.2 | 11.3 | 3.9 | |
| 1955 | | 628,935 | 484,926 | 144,009 | 15.0 | 11.7 | 3.3 | |
| 1956 | | 659,420 | 488,893 | 170,527 | 15.7 | 11.7 | 4.0 | |
| 1957 | | 681,736 | 482,174 | 199,562 | 16.1 | 11.5 | 4.6 | |
| 1958 | | 698,255 | 494,201 | 204,054 | 16.4 | 11.7 | 4.7 | |
| 1959 | | 706,239 | 495,517 | 210,722 | 16.5 | 11.6 | 4.9 | |
| 1960 | | 740,858 | 493,553 | 247,305 | 17.1 | 11.5 | 5.6 | |
| 1961(c) | 43,460,525 | 766,358 | 518,047 | 248,311 | 17.6 | 11.9 | 5.7 | |
| 1962 | | 793,354 | 523,855 | 269,499 | 18.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 | |
| 1963 | | 807,017 | 538,105 | 268,912 | 18.2 | 12.2 | 6.0 | |
| 1964 | | 828,470 | 501,991 | 326,479 | 18.5 | 11.3 | 7.2 | |
| 1965 | | 816,433 | 516,317 | 300,116 | 18.1 | 11.5 | 6.6 | |
| 1966 | | 804,957 | 528,981 | 275,976 | 17.7 | 11.8 | 5.9 | |
| 1967 | | 788,458 | 509,356 | 279,102 | 17.2 | 11.2 | 6.0 | |
| 1968 | | 775,065 | 541,862 | 233,203 | 16.9 | 11.9 | 5.0 | |
| 1969 | | 754,456 | 543,425 | 211,031 | 16.4 | 11.9 | 4.5 | |
| 1970 | | 741,999 | 540,196 | 201,803 | 16.0 | 11.6 | 4.4 | |
| 1971(c) | 46,411,700 | 740,099 | 532,445 | 207,654 | 15.9 | 11.5 | 4.4 | |
| 1972 | 46,572,000 | 685,485 | 554,251 | 131,234 | 14.7 | 11.9 | 2.8 | |
| 1973 | 46,686,000 | 638,356 | 549,876 | 88,480 | 13.7 | 11.8 | 1.9 | |
| 1974 | 46,682,000 | 603,153 | 547,980 | 55,173 | 12.9 | 11.7 | 1.2 | |
| 1975 | 46,674,000 | 568,900 | 545,444 | 23,456 | 12.2 | 11.7 | 0.5 | |
| 1976 | 46,659,000 | 550,383 | 560,317 | -9,934 | 11.8 | 12.0 | -0.2 | |
| 1977 | 46,639,000 | 536,953 | 538,652 | -1,699 | 11.5 | 11.5 | -0.0 | |
| 1978 | 46,638,000 | 562,589 | 547,685 | 14,904 | 12.1 | 11.7 | 0.4 | |
| 1979 | 46,698,000 | 601,316 | 554,840 | 46,476 | 12.9 | 11.9 | 1.0 | |
| 1980 | 46,787,000 | 618,371 | 544,349 | 74,022 | 13.2 | 11.6 | 1.6 | |
| 1981(c) | 46,820,800 | 598,163 | 541,018 | 57,145 | 12.8 | 11.6 | 1.2 | |
| 1982 | 46,777,000 | 589,711 | 544,984 | 44,727 | 12.6 | 11.7 | 0.9 | 1.76 |
| 1983 | 46,813,000 | 593,255 | 542,509 | 50,746 | 12.7 | 11.6 | 1.1 | 1.75 |
| 1984 | 46,912,000 | 600,573 | 531,314 | 69,259 | 12.8 | 11.3 | 1.5 | 1.75 |
| 1985 | 47,057,000 | 619,301 | 553,153 | 66,148 | 13.2 | 11.8 | 1.4 | 1.78 |
| 1986 | 47,187,000 | 623,609 | 544,545 | 79,064 | 13.2 | 11.5 | 1.7 | 1.76 |
| 1987 | 47,300,000 | 643,330 | 531,150 | 112,180 | 13.6 | 11.2 | 2.4 | 1.80 |
| 1988 | 47,412,000 | 654,353 | 535,553 | 118,800 | 13.8 | 11.3 | 2.5 | 1.82 |
| 1989 | 47,552,000 | 649,357 | 539,804 | 109,553 | 13.7 | 11.4 | 2.3 | 1.79 |
| 1990 | 47,699,000 | 666,920 | 528,920 | 138,000 | 14.0 | 11.1 | 3.9 | 1.83 |
| 1991(c) | 47,875,000 | 660,806 | 533,980 | 126,826 | 13.8 | 11.2 | 2.6 | 1.81 |
| 1992 | 47,998,000 | 651,784 | 522,660 | 129,124 | 13.6 | 10.9 | 2.7 | 1.79 |
| 1993 | 48,102,000 | 636,473 | 540,904 | 95,569 | 13.2 | 11.2 | 2.0 | 1.76 |
| 1994 | 48,228,000 | 628,956 | 516,297 | 112,659 | 13.0 | 10.7 | 2.3 | 1.75 |
| 1995 | 48,383,000 | 613,257 | 529,038 | 84,219 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 1.8 | 1.71 |
| 1996 | 48,519,000 | 614,184 | 526,650 | 87,534 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 1.8 | 1.73 |
| 1997 | 48,664,000 | 608,202 | 521,598 | 86,604 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 1.8 | 1.73 |
| 1998 | 48,820,000 | 602,111 | 518,089 | 84,022 | 12.3 | 10.6 | 1.7 | 1.72 |
| 1999 | 49,032,000 | 589,468 | 517,119 | 72,349 | 12.0 | 10.5 | 1.5 | 1.69 |
| 2000 | 49,233,000 | 572,826 | 503,026 | 69,800 | 11.6 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 1.65 |
| 2001(c) | 49,449,000 | 563,744 | 497,878 | 65,866 | 11.4 | 10.1 | 1.3 | 1.63 |
| 2002 | 49,679,000 | 565,709 | 500,792 | 64,917 | 11.4 | 10.1 | 1.3 | 1.64 |
| 2003 | 49,925,000 | 589,851 | 504,127 | 85,724 | 11.8 | 10.1 | 1.7 | 1.72 |
| 2004 | 50,194,000 | 607,184 | 480,717 | 126,467 | 12.1 | 9.6 | 2.5 | 1.77 |
| 2005 | 50,606,000 | 613,028 | 479,678 | 133,350 | 12.1 | 9.5 | 2.6 | 1.77 |
| 2006 | 50,965,000 | 635,748 | 470,326 | 165,422 | 12.5 | 9.2 | 3.3 | 1.83 |
| 2007 | 51,381,000 | 655,357 | 470,721 | 184,636 | 12.8 | 9.2 | 3.6 | 1.88 |
| 2008 | 51,815,000 | 672,809 | 475,763 | 197,046 | 13.0 | 9.2 | 3.8 | 1.92 |
| 2009 | 52,196,000 | 671,058 | 459,241 | 211,817 | 12.9 | 8.8 | 4.1 | 1.91 |
| 2010 | 52,642,000 | 687,007 | 461,017 | 225,990 | 13.1 | 8.8 | 4.3 | 1.94 |
| 2011(c) | 53,107,000 | 688,120 | 452,862 | 235,258 | 13.0 | 8.5 | 4.5 | 1.93 |
| 2012 | 53,493,000 | 694,241 | 466,779 | 227,462 | 13.0 | 8.7 | 4.3 | 1.94 |
| 2013 | 53,865,000 | 664,517 | 473,552 | 190,965 | 12.3 | 8.8 | 3.5 | 1.85 |
| 2014 | 54,316,000 | 661,496 | 468,875 | 192,621 | 12.2 | 8.6 | 3.6 | 1.83 |
| 2015 | 54,786,000 | 664,399 | 495,309 | 169,090 | 12.1 | 9.0 | 3.1 | 1.82 |
| 2016 | 55,268,000 | 663,157 | 490,454 | 172,703 | 12.0 | 8.9 | 3.1 | 1.81 |
| 2017 | 55,619,000 | 646,794 | 498,882 | 147,912 | 11.6 | 9.0 | 2.6 | 1.76 |
| 2018 | 55,977,000 | 625,651 | 505,859 | 119,792 | 11.2 | 9.0 | 2.2 | 1.70 |
| 2019 | 56,287,000 | 610,505 | 488,952 | 121,553 | 10.8 | 8.7 | 2.1 | 1.66 |
| 2020 | 56,550,000 | 585,195 | 569,700 | 15,495 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 0.3 | 1.59 |
| 2021(c) | 56,489,800 | 595,948 | 549,207 | 46,741 | 10.5 | 9.7 | 0.8 | 1.56 |
| 2022 | 57,106,398 | 577,046 | 540,333 | 36,713 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 0.7 | 1.49 |
| 2023 | 57,910,000 | 563,561 | 544,032 | 19,529 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 0.4 | 1.44 |
| 2024 | 58,560,000 | | 531,953 | | | 9.1 | | |
(c) = Census results.
In 2023, the percentage of live births where either one or both parents were born outside of the UK was 38.2 per cent. 32.7 per cent of all live births in England were to mothers born outside of the UK (9.0% born in the EU, 23.7% born outside of the EU).

### Current vital statistics

| Period | Deaths |
| January 2024 | 55,015 |
| January 2025 | 58,587 |
| Difference | +3,572 (+6.49%) |

## Historical per cent distribution of the total population by age

| Ages | 1901 | 1931 | 1951 | 1961 |
| 0–14 years | 32 | 24 | 22 | 23 |
| 15–64 years | 63 | 69 | 67 | 65 |
| 65 years and over | 5 | 7 | 11 | 12 |
| Total (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |

## Country of birth

Country of birth given by respondents in the corresponding UK censuses were as follows:
| Country of birth | 1971 | 1971 | 1981 | 1981 | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Country of birth | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| United Kingdom | 41,951,042 | 91.3% | 42,620,882 | 93.1% | 43,506,411 | 92.46% | 44,594,817 | 90.75% | 45,675,317 | 86.16% | 46,687,505 | 82.65% |
| England | 40,374,714 | 87.9% | 41,084,399 | 89.8% | 42,003,211 | 89.3% | 42,968,596 | 87.44% | 44,246,592 | 83.46% | 45,388,724 | 80.35% |
| Scotland | 716,499 | 1.6% | 731,412 | 1.7% | 743,856 | 1.58% | 794,577 | 1.62% | 708,872 | 1.34% | 626,443 | 1.11% |
| Wales | 632,548 | 1.4% | 573,014 | 1.3% | 545,381 | 1.16% | 609,711 | 1.24% | 506,619 | 0.96% | 478,697 | 0.85% |
| Northern Ireland | 227,281 | 0.5% | – | – | 211,133 | 0.45% | 215,124 | 0.44% | 206,735 | 0.39% | 190,541 | 0.34% |
| United Kingdom (not otherwise specified) | – | – | 232,057 | | 2,830 | 0.01% | 6,809 | 0.01% | 6,499 | 0.01% | 2,612 | |
| Europe (non-UK) | 1,217,245 | 2.7% | 1,142,182 | 2.4% | 1,196,524 | 2.5% | 1,450,260 | 2.95% | 2,375,441 | 4.5% | 4,042,538 | 7.16% |
| Ireland | 647,429 | 1.4% | 567,021 | 1.3% | 555,805 | 1.18% | 460,287 | 0.94% | 395,182 | 0.75% | 314,674 | 0.56% |
| Channel Islands & Isle of Man | – | – | – | – | 26,303 | 0.06% | 27,550 | 0.06% | 24,653 | 0.05% | | |
| Total born in all EU Member Countries (excluding Ireland) | 569,816 | 1.2% | 340,113 | 0% | 452,092 | 1% | 660,061 | 1.34% | 1,980,259 | 3.73% | 3,236,799 | 5.73% |
| EU Member Countries (joined pre 2001) or EEC Members | – | – | 340,113 | | 452,092 | 1% | – | – | 894,908 | 1.69% | 1,263,707 | 2.24% |
| Germany | – | – | – | – | 193,346 | 0.41% | 233,418 | 0.48% | 262,356 | 0.49% | 252,252 | 0.45% |
| Italy | – | – | – | – | 83,724 | 0.18% | 98,757 | 0.20% | 131,195 | 0.25% | 272,019 | 0.48% |
| France | – | – | – | – | 49,947 | 0.11% | 87,562 | 0.18% | 127,601 | 0.24% | 152,697 | 0.27% |
| Spain | – | – | – | – | 37,006 | 0.08% | 50,431 | 0.10% | 77,554 | 0.15% | 163,848 | 0.29% |
| Other EU Member Countries (joined post-2001) | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,085,351 | 2.04% | 1,973,092 | 3.49% |
| Poland | – | – | – | – | 68,049 | 0.14% | 56,679 | 0.12% | 561,098 | 1.06% | 718,251 | 1.27% |
| Romania | – | – | – | – | 3,762 | 0.01% | 7,077 | 0.01% | 78,192 | 0.15% | 530,320 | 0.94% |
| Other non-EU Europe | – | – | 235,048 | 0.5% | 115,247 | 0.2% | – | – | – | – | 491,065 | 0.87% |
| Turkey | – | – | – | – | 26,016 | 0.06% | 52,402 | 0.11% | 89,484 | 0.17% | 124,758 | 0.22% |
| Soviet Union | – | – | – | – | 25,235 | 0.05% | 27,250 | 0.06% | – | – | – | – |
| Africa | 148,473 | 0.3% | 278,678 | 0.6% | 456,396 | 1% | 798,218 | 1.62% | 1,290,611 | 2.43% | 1,558,199 | 2.76% |
| South Africa | – | – | – | – | 21,220 | 0.05% | 129,302 | 0.26% | 186,355 | 0.35% | 211,447 | 0.37% |
| Kenya | – | – | – | – | 109,610 | 0.23% | 126,119 | 0.26% | 135,966 | 0.26% | 133,416 | 0.24% |
| Nigeria | – | – | – | – | 45,873 | 0.10% | 86,370 | 0.18% | 188,690 | 0.36% | 266,877 | 0.47% |
| Middle East and Asia | 522,263 | 1.1% | 727,838 | 1.6% | 1,108,529 | 2.4% | 1,778,296 | 3.62% | 2,529,137 | 4.77% | 3,241,701 | 5.74% |
| India | 301,862 | 0.7% | 378,721 | 0.9% | 395,563 | 0.84% | 450,493 | 0.92% | 682,274 | 1.29% | 906,962 | 1.61% |
| Pakistan | 131,826 | 0.3% | 179,712 | 0.4% | 221,776 | 0.47% | 304,706 | 0.62% | 476,684 | 0.90% | 616,454 | 1.09% |
| Bangladesh | 131,826 | 0.3% | 46,873 | 0.1% | 101,829 | 0.22% | 150,057 | 0.31% | 206,331 | 0.39% | 266,290 | 0.47% |
| Sri Lanka | 15,366 | | – | – | 38,145 | 0.08% | 66,330 | 0.13% | 125,917 | 0.24% | 141,861 | 0.25% |
| Far East | 73,209 | | 122,532 | 0.3% | – | – | 360,604 | 0.73% | – | – | – | – |
| Hong Kong | – | – | – | – | 64,496 | 0.14% | 84,770 | 0.17% | 98,724 | 0.19% | 117,714 | 0.21% |
| China | – | – | – | – | 21,292 | 0.05% | 47,201 | 0.10% | 146,202 | 0.28% | 176,072 | 0.31% |
| Americas and Caribbean | 292,966 | 0.6% | 291,679 | 0.6% | 481,299 | 1% | – | – | 663,091 | 1.25% | 790,002 | 1.40% |
| United States | – | – | – | – | 128,337 | 0.27% | 141,198 | 0.29% | 173,470 | 0.33% | 198,656 | 0.35% |
| Jamaica | – | – | – | – | 141,352 | 0.30% | 145,234 | 0.30% | 159,170 | 0.30% | 141,289 | 0.25% |
| Canada | – | – | – | – | 53,195 | 0.11% | 59,356 | 0.12% | 66,320 | 0.13% | 66,847 | 0.12% |
| Antarctica and Oceania | – | – | – | – | 104,141 | 0.2% | – | – | 179,200 | 0.34% | 170,023 | 0.30% |
| Australia | – | – | – | – | 66,279 | 0.14% | 96,437 | 0.20% | 113,592 | 0.21% | 109,963 | 0.19% |
| New Zealand | – | – | – | – | 37,862 | 0.08% | 53,466 | 0.11% | 57,076 | 0.11% | 47,842 | 0.08% |
| Other: Old Commonwealth | 119,683 | 0.3% | 133,220 | 0.3% | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other: New Commonwealth | 109,971 | 0.2% | 155,389 | 0.3% | 147,602 | 0.3% | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Other Countries (non Europe or UK for 2001–2021) | 482,351 | 1% | 421,895 | 0.9% | – | – | 3,093,754 | 6.30% | 4,961,698 | 9.36% | 5,760,008 | 10.20% |
| Total | 45,917,667 | 100% | 45,771,763 | 100% | 47,055,204 | 100% | 49,138,831 | 100.00% | 53,012,456 | 100.00% | 56,490,051 | 100% |
Below are the estimates of the largest foreign-born groups in England according to ONS estimates.
| Country of birth | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2018 |
| India | 698,000 | 748,000 | 751,000 | 832,000 |
| Poland | 561,000 | 677,000 | 713,000 | 832,000 |
| Pakistan | 479,000 | 499,000 | 478,000 | 535,000 |
| Ireland | 315,000 | 317,000 | 318,000 | 369,000 |
| Germany | 263,000 | 267,000 | 253,000 | 309,000 |

## Age

The data below is based on the 2011 census. In 2001, the mean age of England's population was 38.60, and the median age was 37.00. In 2022, the median age was 40.5.
| Ages attained (years) | Population | % of total population | % per year of age band |
| 0–4 | 3,318,449 | 6.26 | 1.25 |
| 5–9 | 2,972,632 | 5.61 | 1.12 |
| 10–14 | 3,080,929 | 5.81 | 1.16 |
| 15–19 | 3,340,265 | 6.30 | 1.26 |
| 20–24 | 3,595,321 | 6.78 | 1.36 |
| 25–29 | 3,650,881 | 6.89 | 1.38 |
| 30–34 | 3,509,221 | 6.62 | 1.32 |
| 35–39 | 3,549,116 | 6.69 | 1.34 |
| 40–44 | 3,885,934 | 7.33 | 1.47 |
| 45–49 | 3,879,815 | 7.32 | 1.46 |
| 50–54 | 3,400,095 | 6.41 | 1.28 |
| 55–59 | 2,996,992 | 5.65 | 1.13 |
| 60–64 | 3,172,277 | 5.98 | 1.20 |
| 65–69 | 2,508,154 | 4.73 | 0.95 |
| 70–74 | 2,044,129 | 3.86 | 0.77 |
| 75–79 | 1,669,345 | 3.15 | 0.63 |
| 80–84 | 1,258,773 | 2.37 | 0.47 |
| 85–89 | 776,311 | 1.46 | 0.29 |
| 90+ | 403,817 | 0.76 | – |
* Population pyramids of the regions of England
* South West
* South East
* Greater London
* East of England
* East Midlands
* West Midlands
* Yorkshire and the Humber
* North West
* North East

## Ethnicity

Estimations of white and non-white population in England and Wales, 1951-1968 :
| Ethnic group (reported as 'Area of origin') | 1951 | 1951 | 1961 | 1961 | 1966 | 1966 | 1966 | 1966 | mid-1968 | mid-1968 |
| Ethnic group (reported as 'Area of origin') | 1951 | 1951 | 1961 | 1961 | Estimates based solely off of immigrant population | Estimates based solely off of immigrant population | Total estimated (including estimates of those born in the UK) | Total estimated (including estimates of those born in the UK) | | mid-1968 | mid-1968 |
| Ethnic group (reported as 'Area of origin') | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % |
| White: Total | 43,683,500 | 99.83% | 45,769,000 | 99.28% | 46,540,500 | 98.73% | 46,211,500 | 98.04% | – | – |
| Non-White: Total | 74,500 | 0.17% | 336,000 | 0.72% | 595,000 | 1.27% | 924,000 | 1.96% | 1,123,000 | – |
| India | 30,800 | | 81,400 | | 163,600 | | 223,000 | | – | – |
| Pakistan | 5,000 | | 24,900 | | 67,700 | | 199,700 | | – | – |
| Ceylon (Sri Lanka) | 5,800 | | 9,000 | | 12,900 | | 16,100 | | – | – |
| West Indies | 15,300 | | 171,800 | | 267,900 | | – | – | – | – |
| Jamaica | – | – | – | – | – | – | 278,000 | | – | – |
| Other Caribbean | – | – | – | – | – | – | 180,300 | | – | – |
| British West Africa (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone) | 5,600 | | 19,800 | | 36,000 | | 50,700 | | – | – |
| Far East (Hong Kong, Malaya, Singapore) | 12,000 | | 29,600 | | 47,000 | | 60,000 | | – | – |
| Total population | 43,758,000 | 100% | 46,105,000 | 100% | 47,135,500 | 100% | 47,135,500 | 100% | – | – |
Ethnicity in England, 1981-2021 :
| Ethnic group | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year | Year |
| Ethnic group | 1981 estimations | 1981 estimations | 1991 | 1991 | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Ethnic group | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % | Population | % |
| White: Total | – | 95.4% | 44,144,339 | 93.8% | 44,679,361 | 90.9% | 45,281,142 | 85.4% | 45,783,401 | 81% |
| White: British | – | – | – | – | 42,747,136 | 87.0% | 42,279,236 | 79.8% | 41,540,791 | 73.5% |
| White: Irish | – | – | – | – | 624,115 | 1.3% | 517,001 | 1.0% | 494,251 | 0.9% |
| White: Irish Traveller/White Gypsy | – | – | – | – | – | – | 54,895 | 0.1% | 64,218 | 0.1% |
| White: Roma | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 99,138 | 0.2% |
| White: Other | – | – | – | – | 1,308,110 | 2.7% | 2,430,010 | 4.6% | 3,585,003 | 6.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Total | – | 2.65% | 1,762,262 | 3.7% | 2,468,970 | 5% | 4,143,403 | 7.8% | 5,426,392 | 9.7% |
| Asian or Asian British: Indian | – | 1.32% | 823,821 | 1.8% | 1,028,546 | 2.1% | 1,395,702 | 2.6% | 1,843,248 | 3.3% |
| Asian or Asian British: Pakistani | – | 0.7% | 449,646 | 1.0% | 706,539 | 1.4% | 1,112,282 | 2.1% | 1,570,285 | 2.8% |
| Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | 0.18% | 157,881 | 0.3% | 275,394 | 0.6% | 436,514 | 0.8% | 629,567 | 1.1% |
| Asian or Asian British: Chinese | – | 0.22% | 141,661 | 0.3% | 220,681 | 0.5% | 379,502 | 0.7% | 431,165 | 0.8% |
| Asian or Asian British: Asian Other | – | 0.23% | 189,253 | 0.4% | 237,810 | 0.5% | 819,403 | 1.6% | 952,127 | 1.7% |
| Black or Black British: Total | – | 1.51% | 874,882 | 1.9% | 1,132,508 | 2.3% | 1,846,614 | 3.5% | 2,381,724 | 4.2% |
| Black or Black British: Caribbean | – | 0.91% | 495,682 | 1.1% | 561,246 | 1.1% | 591,016 | 1.1% | 619,419 | 1.1% |
| Black or Black British: African | – | 0.3% | 206,918 | 0.4% | 475,938 | 1.0% | 977,741 | 1.8% | 1,468,474 | 2.6% |
| Black or Black British: Other | – | 0.3% | 172,282 | 0.4% | 95,324 | 0.2% | 277,857 | 0.5% | 293,831 | 0.5% |
| British Mixed: Total | – | – | – | – | 643,373 | 1.3% | 1,192,879 | 2.3% | 1,669,378 | 2.9% |
| Mixed: White and Caribbean | – | – | – | – | 231,424 | 0.5% | 415,616 | 0.8% | 499,310 | 0.9% |
| Mixed: White and African | – | – | – | – | 76,498 | 0.2% | 161,550 | 0.3% | 241,528 | 0.4% |
| Mixed: White and Asian | – | – | – | – | 184,014 | 0.4% | 332,708 | 0.6% | 474,190 | 0.8% |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | – | – | 151,437 | 0.3% | 283,005 | 0.3% | 454,350 | 0.8% |
| Other: Total | – | 0.44% | 273,721 | 0.6% | 214,619 | 0.4% | 548,418 | 1.0% | 1,229,153 | 2.2% |
| Other: Arab | – | – | – | – | – | – | 220,985 | 0.4% | 320,203 | 0.6% |
| Other: Any other ethnic group | – | 0.44% | 273,721 | 0.6% | 214,619 | 0.4% | 327,433 | 0.6% | 908,950 | 1.6% |
| Non-White: Total | – | 4.6% | 2,910,865 | 6.2% | 4,459,470 | 9% | 7,731,314 | 14.6% | 10,706,647 | 19% |
| Total | – | 100% | 47,055,204 | 100% | 49,138,831 | 100% | 53,012,456 | 100% | 56,490,048 | 100% |
Notes for table above
* ↑ Figure accounts for all of Europe apart from Ireland
* ↑ Used as main option for when no other options are given, for example in 1971. This group contains all for Canada, Australia and New Zealand
* ↑ Used as a conglomerate for New Commonwealth for when there are no other options as for example in 1971. This group contains all for remenents of the British Empire after 1945 (if not already indicated).
* 1 2 3 Estimates taken solely from the immigrant population at the time excluding estimates of those that were white from these areas.
* ↑ Estimates are taken from a combined estimate of the immigrant population (excluding estimates of white people), additional non-white people who may not have been enumerated, and estimates of non-white people born in the UK from parents from shown areas
* ↑ The number of people who answered the census may not equal the estimated population total at the time due to the fact an estimated 1 million people did not answer the form.
* ↑ In 2001, listed under the 'Chinese or other ethnic group' heading.

### Population distribution

* Population distribution of ethnic groups in 2011
* Other White (4.6%)
* Asian/Asian British: Indian (2.6%)
* Asian/Asian British: Pakistani (2.1%)
* Asian/Asian British: Bangladeshi (0.8%)
* Black/Black British: Total (3.5%)
* Other: Arab (0.4%)
* Proportion of births in regions of each broad multi-ethnic group
* White
* Asian
* Black
* Mixed
* All other ethnic groups
* Births which did not state an ethnicity

### Ethnicity of school pupils

The ethnicity of school pupils in England has been changing since the figures started to be collected in 2002, White British students proportionally have been in decline compared to other groups who have risen.
| Ethnic group | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year | School year |
| Ethnic group | 1997 | 1997 | 2004 | 2004 | 2008 | 2008 | 2010 | 2010 | 2014 | 2014 | 2015/16 | 2015/16 | 2017/18 | 2017/18 | 2019/20 | 2019/20 | 2021/22 | 2021/22 | 2023/24 | 2023/24 |
| Ethnic group | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| White: Total | 5,976,100 | 89% | 5,584,800 | 82.9% | 5,389,340 | 81.3% | 5,243,870 | 79.9% | 5,222,070 | 76.9% | 5,258,582 | 75.6% | 6,027,781 | 74% | 6,048,980 | 72.8% | 6,011,045 | 71.4% | 5,877,640 | 69.1% |
| White: British | – | – | 5,408,700 | 80.3% | 5,136,610 | 77.4% | 4,963,110 | 75.6% | 4,859,730 | 71.6% | 4,822,332 | 69.3% | 5,454,108 | 66.9% | 5,432,991 | 65.4% | 5,379,748 | 63.9% | 5,212,524 | 61.3% |
| White: Irish | – | – | 26,100 | 0.3% | 23,620 | 0.4% | 22,190 | 0.3% | 21,640 | 0.3% | 21,127 | 0.3% | 23,110 | 0.3% | 22,443 | 0.3% | 21,495 | 0.3% | 20,677 | 0.2% |
| White: Roma | – | – | 6,500 | 0.1% | 3,940 | 0.1% | 4,000 | 0.1% | 4,625 | 0.1% | 22,092 | 0.3% | 26,653 | 0.3% | 28,091 | 0.3% | 27,359 | 0.3% | 28,594 | 0.3% |
| White: Irish Traveller | – | – | 3,900 | 0.1% | 8,770 | 0.1% | 10,990 | 0.2% | 19,030 | 0.3% | 4,975 | 0.1% | 6,008 | 0.1% | 6,578 | 0.1% | 6,903 | 0.1% | 6,798 | 0.1% |
| White: Other | – | – | 139,600 | 2.1% | 216,410 | 3.3% | 243,580 | 3.7% | 317,055 | 4.7% | 388,056 | 5.6% | 517,902 | 6.4% | 558,877 | 6.7% | 575,540 | 6.8% | 609,047 | 7.2% |
| Asian / Asian British: Total | – | – | 476,900 | 7.1% | 536,420 | 8.1% | 575,670 | 8.8% | 676,920 | 10.0% | 755,817 | 10.8% | 937,983 | 11.4% | 985,795 | 11.9% | 1,040,541 | 12.3% | 1,129,383 | 13.4% |
| Asian / Asian British: Indian | – | – | 154,400 | 2.3% | 161,150 | 2.4% | 163,780 | 2.5% | 180,995 | 2.7% | 196,351 | 2.8% | 247,280 | 3.0% | 268,318 | 3.2% | 289,179 | 3.4% | 337,382 | 4.0% |
| Asian / Asian British: Pakistani | – | – | 180,600 | 2.7% | 214,210 | 3.2% | 231,380 | 3.5% | 273,465 | 4.0% | 293,089 | 4.2% | 360,554 | 4.4% | 372,699 | 4.5% | 380,781 | 4.5% | 388,315 | 4.6% |
| Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi | – | – | 72,000 | 1.1% | 87,320 | 1.3% | 95,420 | 1.5% | 110,735 | 1.6% | 117,004 | 1.7% | 143,379 | 1.8% | 148,290 | 1.8% | 151,613 | 1.8% | 151,875 | 1.8% |
| Asian / Asian British: Chinese | – | – | 23,700 | 0.4% | 24,780 | 0.4% | 24,690 | 0.4% | 26,725 | 0.4% | 28,915 | 0.4% | 36,196 | 0.4% | 37,732 | 0.5% | 48,396 | 0.6% | 63,774 | 0.8% |
| Asian / Asian British: Other Asians | – | – | 46,200 | 0.7% | 73,770 | 1.1% | 85,080 | 1.3% | 111,720 | 1.6% | 120,458 | 1.7% | 150,574 | 1.8% | 158,756 | 1.9% | 170,572 | 2.0% | 188,037 | 2.2% |
| Black / Black British: Total | – | – | 244,900 | 3.6% | 292,860 | 4.4% | 312,260 | 4.8% | 366,130 | 5.4% | 389,585 | 5.5% | 464,367 | 5.7% | 474,570 | 5.7% | 486,517 | 5.8% | 551,099 | 6.5% |
| Black: Caribbean | – | – | 96,100 | 1.4% | 92,090 | 1.4% | 91,400 | 1.4% | 89,350 | 1.3% | 85,830 | 1.2% | 91,429 | 1.1% | 86,543 | 1.0% | 82,402 | 1.0% | 78,817 | 0.9% |
| Black: African | – | – | 120,900 | 1.8% | 167,990 | 2.5% | 184,790 | 2.8% | 232,065 | 3.4% | 253,781 | 3.6% | 311,012 | 3.8% | 323,874 | 3.9% | 338,614 | 4.0% | 406,246 | 4.8% |
| Black: Other Blacks | – | – | 27,900 | 0.4% | 32,770 | 0.5% | 36,070 | 0.5% | 44,710 | 0.7% | 49,974 | 0.7% | 61,926 | 0.8% | 64,153 | 0.8% | 65,501 | 0.8% | 66,036 | 0.8% |
| Mixed / British Mixed | – | – | 181,500 | 2.7% | 229,650 | 3.5% | 256,980 | 3.9% | 325,140 | 4.8% | 363,730 | 5.3% | 473,305 | 5.8% | 515,061 | 6.1% | 558,184 | 6.6% | 594,344 | 7.0% |
| Mixed: White and Caribbean | – | – | 64,600 | 1.0% | 77,350 | 1.2% | 82,410 | 1.3% | 95,785 | 1.4% | 101,278 | 1.5% | 123,873 | 1.5% | 128,774 | 1.5% | 133,504 | 1.6% | 134,384 | 1.6% |
| Mixed: White and African | – | – | 17,000 | 0.3% | 24,110 | 0.4% | 27,860 | 0.4% | 40,245 | 0.6% | 47,472 | 0.7% | 63,518 | 0.8% | 70,403 | 0.8% | 76,262 | 0.9% | 79,940 | 0.9% |
| Mixed: White and Asian Other | – | – | 36,300 | 0.5% | 47,510 | 0.7% | 54,610 | 0.8% | 73,555 | 1.1% | 84,133 | 1.2% | 111,811 | 1.4% | 123,153 | 1.5% | 134,821 | 1.6% | 143,206 | 1.7% |
| Mixed: Other Mixed | – | – | 63,500 | 0.9% | 80,680 | 1.2% | 92,110 | 1.4% | 115,560 | 1.7% | 130,847 | 1.9% | 174,103 | 2.1% | 192,731 | 2.3% | 213,597 | 2.5% | 236,814 | 2.8% |
| Other: Total | – | – | 57,900 | 0.9% | 78,560 | 1.2% | 86,880 | 1.3% | 106,115 | 1.6% | 119,647 | 1.7% | 154,575 | 1.9% | 168,758 | 2.0% | 185,355 | 2.2% | 203,561 | 2.4% |
| Unclassified | – | – | 190,700 | 2.8% | 81,300 | 1.2% | 64,610 | 1.0% | 67,935 | 1.0% | 67,126 | 1.0% | 94,312 | 1.2% | 119,388 | 1.4% | 136,371 | 1.6% | 141,908 | 1.7% |
| Total: | 6,716,700 | 100% | 6,736,700 | 100% | 6,632,900 | 100% | 6,564,940 | 100% | 6,791,030 | 100% | 6,954,487 | 100% | 8,152,323 | 100% | 8,312,552 | 100% | 8,418,013 | 100% | 8,497,935 | 100% |
* Ethnicity of school pupils in the school year of 2021/2022
* White: 71.4%
* White British: 63.9%

## Languages

The most common main languages spoken in England according to the 2011 census are shown below.
| Rank | Language | Usual residents aged 3+ | Proportion |
| 1 | English | 46,936,780 | 92.02% |
| 2 | Polish | 529,173 | 1.04% |
| 3 | Punjabi | 271,580 | 0.53% |
| 4 | Urdu | 266,330 | 0.52% |
| 5 | Bengali (with Sylheti and Chatgaya) | 216,196 | 0.42% |
| 6 | Gujarati | 212,217 | 0.42% |
| 7 | Arabic | 152,490 | 0.30% |
| 8 | French | 145,026 | 0.28% |
| 9 | Portuguese | 131,002 | 0.26% |
| 10 | Spanish | 118,554 | 0.23% |
| 11 | Tamil | 99,773 | 0.20% |
| 12 | Turkish | 98,083 | 0.19% |
| 13 | Italian | 90,547 | 0.18% |
| 14 | Somali | 84,387 | 0.17% |
| 15 | Lithuanian | 84,327 | 0.17% |
| 16 | German | 75,190 | 0.15% |
| 17 | Persian/Farsi | 75,179 | 0.15% |
| 18 | Tagalog/Filipino | 67,593 | 0.13% |
| 19 | Romanian | 66,496 | 0.13% |
| 20 | Russian | 66,271 | 0.13% |
| – | Welsh | 8,248 | 0.02% |
| – | Cornish | 554 | 0.00% |
| – | Other | 1,209,614 | 2.37% |
| | Population | 51,005,610 | 100.00% |

## Religion

Religion in England (2021 census)
Respondents to the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses gave their religions as follows:
| Religion | 2001 | 2001 | 2011 | 2011 | 2021 | 2021 |
| Religion | Number | % | Number | % | Number | % |
| Christian | 35,251,244 | 71.74% | 31,479,876 | 59.38% | 26,167,899 | 46.3 |
| Muslim | 1,524,887 | 3.10% | 2,660,116 | 5.02% | 3,801,186 | 6.7 |
| Hindu | 546,982 | 1.11% | 806,199 | 1.52% | 1,032,533 | 1.8 |
| Sikh | 327,343 | 0.67% | 420,196 | 0.79% | 520,092 | 0.9 |
| Jewish | 257,671 | 0.52% | 261,282 | 0.49% | 269,283 | 0.5 |
| Buddhist | 139,046 | 0.28% | 238,626 | 0.45% | 262,433 | 0.5 |
| Other religion | 143,811 | 0.29% | 227,825 | 0.43% | 332,410 | 0.6 |
| No religion | 7,171,332 | 14.59% | 13,114,232 | 24.74% | 20,715,664 | 36.7 |
| Religion not stated | 3,776,515 | 7.69% | 3,804,104 | 7.18% | 3,400,548 | 6.0 |
| Total population | 49,138,831 | 100.00% | 53,012,456 | 100.00% | 56,490,048 | 100.0 |